Improving Health Care
The insurance industry is working hard to combat the underlying sources of waste in the healthcare system through:
- Coordinated efforts to improve health promotion, chronic disease management and prevention;
- Increased standardization and transparency to help consumers make value based decisions related to health plans, providers and treatment options;
- Improved research on comparative effectiveness of treatments and clinical programs;
- Reform of legal liability to decrease the prevalence of defensive medicine and refocus on a quality based system;
- Promotion of value based reimbursement to engage consumers more actively in their health care decisions and reward providers for effective clinical practice;
- Enhanced health information technologies to support imporived quality management, and streamline administrative processes.
While progress has been made, much more can be done through enhanced collaboration and execution to reduce waste and improve the effectiveness and performance of the health care system.
Did you know ? . . .
The biggest shift in medical expenses over the last decade has been the sharp reduction in drug spending growth. The reduction in prescription drug spending offers lessons about strategies to restrain cost growth without harming quality. Prescription drug increases have recently slowed down and grew at only 5.7 percent in 2007, less than overall growth in premiums. Prescription drugs accounted for only 0.8 percent of total growth, or about 13 percent of the 6.1 percent increase. Of the 0.8 percent contribution, 0.4 percent came from CPI and 0.4 percent came from increased utilization.
MEDICAL NEWS 
Swine flu refers to a respiratory infection caused by influenza A viruses that ordinarily cause illness in pigs. Humans can catch swine flu from infected pigs, but pig-to-human transmission is unusual. Human-to-human transmission of true swine flu is also possible but infrequent.
The recent outbreak of what is being called swine flu involves a new H1N1 type A influenza strain that's a genetic combination of swine, avian and human influenza viruses. It's capable of spreading from human to human.
In June 2009, based on its wide spread to many nations, the World Health Organization declared the swine flu outbreak a global pandemic.
This new swine flu strain is being called by a number of names, including: swine-origin influenza A, swine influenza A (H1N1), influenza A/California/H1N1, swine origin influenza virus, North American flu and influenza A (H1N1).
The best approach you can take is to try to avoid infection. If you do develop symptoms of swine flu, seek prompt medical attention so that you have the best chance of antiviral drugs providing you with successful treatment.
The symptoms of swine flu in humans are similar to those of infection with other flu strains.
- Fever
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Body aches
- Headache
- Chills
- Fatigue
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
Symptoms develop three to five days after you're exposed to the virus and continue for about another week. You can pass the virus to other people for about eight days, starting one day before you get sick and continuing until you've recovered.
When to see a doctor
See your doctor immediately if you develop flu symptoms, such as fever, cough and body aches, and you have recently traveled to an area where H1N1 swine flu has been reported. Be sure to let your doctor know when and where you traveled.
Also see your doctor if you develop respiratory symptoms after you've been in close contact with someone who may have been exposed to H1N1 swine flu.
Doctors have rapid tests to identify the flu virus, but there is no rapid test to differentiate swine influenza A H1N1 from other influenza A subtypes.
Exerpts taken from the Mayo Clinic.
This newsletter is not intended to give medical advice. If you are experience physicial symptoms, you need to consult with a physician.
